Applicability of CHIRPS-based satellite rainfall estimates for South Africa

Long-term rainfall data with good spatial and temporal distribution is essential for all climate-related analyses. The availability of observed rainfall data has become increasingly problematic over the years due to a limited and deteriorating rainfall station network, occasioned by limited reporting and/or quality control of rainfall and, in some cases, closure of these stations. Remotely sensed satellite-based rainfall data sets offer an alternative source of information. In this study, daily and monthly rainfall data derived from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation (CHIRPS) is compared with observed rainfall data from 46 stations evenly distributed across South Africa. Various metrics, based on a pairwise comparison between the observed and CHIRPS data, were applied to evaluate CHIRPS performance in the estimation of daily and monthly rainfall. The results show that CHIRPS data correlate well with observed monthly rainfall data for all stations used, having an average coefficient of determination of 0.6 and bias of 0.95. This study concludes that monthly CHIRPS data corresponds well, with good precision and relatively little bias when compared to observed monthly rainfall data, and can therefore be considered for use in conjunction with observed rainfall data where no or limited data is available in South Africa for hydrological analysis.

Reduction of local scouring at round-nosed rectangular piers using a downstream bed sill

This study investigated the effectiveness of bed sills in reducing the scour depth with time at rectangular piers in a laboratory. Experiments were conducted just below the threshold of sediment motion (U/Uc = 0.95) for round-nosed piers with the length-to-width ratios of L/b = 1, 2, 3 and 4. Accordingly, a 1 cm thick PVC section as wide as the channel was used as the bed sill, which was flush with the bed and located at various distances, D, in the downstream of the piers, i.e. D/b = 0, 1, 2 and 3. It was found that the efficiency of the bed sill for a rectangular pier was significantly less than that for the circular one; there was a decrease in efficiency and scour depth with an increase of the pier length. The maximum efficiency obtained for the round-nosed piers with L/b = 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 32.5%, 21.3%, 14.4% and 5.7%, respectively. The application of a bed sill to reduce the local scour in round-nosed rectangular piers, when the length-to-width ratio exceeds 2, is therefore not recommended. Furthermore, the efficiency of the bed sill is the best when it is attached to the downstream end of the pier; its efficiency is decreased when increasing its distance from the pier.

A parametric design process model for box culverts

This research proposes a parametric design process model to improve the structural engineering project team performance by automating the design and three-dimensional modelling procedures of box culverts. Although standardised design procedures can reduce the design time of repetitive structures such as box culverts, the increased time and effort required for revising construction drawings negatively impacts a project's performance. A literature review was conducted to develop a theoretical process model to improve the current structural design optimisation and three-dimensional modelling procedures of box culverts. The proposed process model was validated using structured interviews with professionally registered structural engineers for appropriateness to box culverts and the potential to improve project performance. The data analysis revealed that the interviewed engineers were in favour of automating the design optimisation and three-dimensional modelling procedures of box culverts. Moreover, parametric design automation would result in improved project performance when encountering an inevitable design change. However, the user's control over the output of each process should not be discarded. This study can help readers understand the transformation of the structural design and three-dimensional modelling procedures of repetitive structures, such as box culverts, into an algorithmic form to achieve improved project performance.

A review of methods to account for impacts of non-stationary climate data on extreme rainfalls for design rainfall estimation in South Africa

Frequency analysis of extreme rainfall and flood events are used to determine design rainfalls and design floods which are needed to design hydraulic structures such as dams, spillways and culverts. Standard methods for frequency analysis of extreme events are based on the assumption of a stationary climate. However, this assumption in rainfall and flood frequency analysis is being challenged with growing evidence of climate change. As a consequence of a changing climate, the frequency and magnitude of extreme rainfall events are reported to have increased in parts of South Africa, and these and other changes in extreme rainfall occurrences are expected to continue into the future. The possible non-stationarity in climate resulting in changes in rainfall may impact on the accuracy of the estimation of extreme rainfall quantities and design rainfall estimations. This may have significant consequences for the design of new hydraulic infrastructure, as well as for the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. Hence, methods that account for non-stationary data, such as caused by climate change, need to be developed. This may be achieved by using data from downscaled global circulation models in order to identify non-stationary climate variables which affect rainfall, and which can then be incorporated into extreme value analysis of a non-stationary data series.

Incipient motion of Armorflex articulating concrete blocks on steep slopes

Armorflex is an articulating concrete block erosion protection measure that has been used as an alternative to riprap for many years. Even though extensive research and hydraulic testing have been conducted on Armorflex, the principal constraint on the use of concrete blocks has been the lack of information on prototype performance. Furthermore, there are no standards for Armorflex or articulating concrete block revetments in the South African National Standards, and design guidelines from Armorflex manufacturers are insufficient. The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of the critical flow conditions under which Armorflex blocks are lifted and removed by flowing water in open channel flow applications. Scaled laboratory tests were conducted on Armorflex 140 and Armorflex 180 blocks. Liu's theory of 1957 is applied in an attempt to define the point where block movement is initiated.

Three-dimensional contact stresses of a slick solid rubber tyre on a rigid surface

The main aim of this paper is to quantify the three-dimensional contact stresses imposed by a single slow-moving (or rolling) slick solid rubber tyre on a relatively rough contact surface, such as stiff asphalt concrete or airport concrete surfacing layers. The results indicated the tyre-contact patch of a slick solid rubber tyre to be of rectangular shape for a vertical tyre loading range between 20 kN and 100 kN. The rectangular tyre contact shape was confirmed with static paper prints, as well as an electronically measured contact patch with the stress-in-motion pad device. The study included load calibration using a mass load scale, and a stress-in-motion device. These were used with an existing full-scale accelerated pavement test device, referred to as the heavy vehicle simulator. In addition, simplistic multi-layer linear elastic modelling was used to quantify differences between stress and strain responses of two types of two relatively 'stiff' based pavements, such as an asphalt concrete base and Portland cement concrete base, on similar subbase and subgrade layers. Notable differences were obtained, which could potentially influence further detailed studies on the performance of full-scale slick solid rubber tyres on typical multi-layered pavements.

Design and construction of laboratory-scale activated carbon, gravel and rice husk filter columns for the treatment of stormwater runoff from automobile workshops

The design and construction of low-cost laboratory-scale filter columns using locally available Nigerian filter materials - granular activated carbon (GAC), gravel (GR) and rice husk (RH) - were carried out and reported. The filter materials and columns were designed, constructed and used for the treatment of stormwater runoff from selected automobile workshops in Nigeria over a period of three rainy months. The combined granular activated carbon and rice husk filter systems performed best with pollutant removal efficiency of 58%. It was shown that the materials, considered as waste, could be recycled and used as filter materials in the treatment of stormwater from automobile workshops. This low-cost technology for stormwater runoff treatment, especially for automobile workshops at large scale and in-situ, can be further explored.

A self-calibrating model to estimate average speed from AADT

ABSTRACT Transport practitioners need a universally applicable speed prediction model to estimate average speeds on any road. Average annual speed is a key input to the economic assessment of transport infrastructure where reliable estimates of future average speeds are necessary to calculate economic costs and benefits. The relationship between Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) and average annual speed was investigated on higher-order roads across South Africa, revealing a high level of variability in this correlation at different locations. This variation is influenced by road characteristics, such as alignment and cross-section, complicating the formulation of a universal speed prediction model. Two novel speed prediction models are proposed in this article that use AADT to forecast future average annual speed. The speeds of heavy vehicles and light vehicles can be estimated separately, as well as the average speed of all vehicles simultaneously. Both models are self-calibrating, accounting for the variation in the AADT-speed relationship. This calibration step is unique to speed prediction models and increases the reliability of these models to estimate future average speeds considerably. Furthermore, self-calibrating average annual speed prediction models are universally applicable and will simplify economic assessment of transport infrastructure. Keywords: speed prediction, average annual speed, self-calibration, AADT, economic assessment

Prediction of California Bearing Ratio and compaction characteristics of Transvaal soils from indicator properties

ABSTRACT A preliminary statistical analysis of 914 mostly Transvaal soils of average selected subgrade quality produced useful, highly statistically significant methods for the prediction of the maximum Proctor CBR and the Proctor compaction characteristics, as well as relationships between soaked and unsoaked CBR and between Proctor and MAASHO compaction characteristics. Because of the well-known poor reproducibilty of the CBR, as well as the indicator tests used, it is believed that the accuracy of the prediction methods is better than it appears from the large scatter of results. These methods do not replace CBR testing but supplement it by possibly reducing the number of expensive tests and providing a check on gross errors. Keywords: CBR, prediction, indicator tests, subgrade, Proctor

Reliability basis for assessment of existing building structures with reference to sans 10160

The principles of structural reliability are firmly established to provide the basis for structural performance as incorporated in design standards. Reliability-based procedures provide for variabilities and uncertainties that could reasonably be expected during the design service life of the structure. However, not all possible conditions to which all structures are exposed during such an extended service period can be accounted for effectively and economically at the design stage. The assessment of the reliability performance of an existing structure therefore forms an integral part of structural management and engineering practice. Despite the lag between the development and implementation of a basis for design and assessment of structures, the extensive body of information on structural assessment progresses steadily towards standardisation. This paper provides a review of the progress to provide background information towards extending the scope of South African structural standards to include guidance on structural assessment. The focus is on such developments to include provisions for existing structures in Eurocode, together with related investigations. In addition to a general review of background investigations, interrelationships between the basis of design and assessment for Eurocode (potentially also for South Africa) are considered. The main elements of a standardised basis for assessment are defined, and alternative assessment approaches are presented and demonstrated by representative examples. In conclusion, an outline of a possible development path for implementation in South Africa is provided.